Landfills produce a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide with traces of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases. These gases are extracted from the landfill with multiple wellheads and collected via a network of pipes with a common header pipe, which feeds gas to turbines that produce clean electric power. Typical systems include turbines, compressors, blowers, pumps, flow meters, knock-out pots, and a flare or oxidizer gas system.

Accurate landfill gas flow measurement is essential to provide operators with system-wide information on the amount of gas being extracted and used for electric power generation and/or disposed of via the flare or gas oxidizer system. The plant operators report the gas flow data to environmental agencies for pollution regulatory purposes and for carbon credit programs.